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3 Toronto Maple Leafs Who Should Be Worried About Job Security

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 29: Alex Galchenyuk #12 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 29, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Oilers defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 29: Alex Galchenyuk #12 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 29, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Oilers defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 13: Pierre Engvall #47 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Pierre Engvall

Who’s Out? Pierre Engvall

Who’s In? Adam Brooks or Riley Nash

I know that Engvall can contribute in other ways than points, but three goals and eight points in 37 games isn’t enough. Those point totals look even worse when Adam Brooks, who’s fighting for Engvall’s job and has only played in five games, has two goals and three points.

Brooks played in Toronto’s last three games, and although he’s only averaged roughly nine minutes of ice-time per night, he’s been efficient. At 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, he’s way smaller than Engvall, who’s 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, but Brooks seems to play bigger than him.

He’s been all over the ice and has looked very good on the penalty-kill, even scoring a short-handed goal.

If the Leafs don’t want to go with Brooks, because of his inexperience, they could turn to Riley Nash as the fourth-line centre instead. Health is obviously a concern (currently on Long Term Injured Reserve), but if he’s ready to go in the playoffs, he’d be Toronto’s best option.

He only has eight points in 32 career playoff games, but he’s been known to be a pest to play against. Engvall, on the other hand, is proving that he’s just another depth player, so Brooks and Nash feel like better options when the team’s fully healthy.

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